We’ve all heard the saying “As American as apple pie.” There is one influential man to thank for this tradition, and today is his day! September 26^th is National Johnny Appleseed Day. As legend has it, John Chapman (a.k.a. Johnny Appleseed) was an American pioneer who traveled by foot planting apple trees and orchards. His trek took him from Pennsylvania to Iowa. He often walked shoeless with a wide brimmed hat shading sun from his eyes as he traveled. Now that’s what you call dedication! This conspicuous character was known for his work ethic and benevolence toward nature and mankind.

Not only did Johnny spread apple seeds, but wisdom and compassion as well. He was known to share books and the teachings of Swedish spiritual leader Emanuel Swedenborg. Story has it, this nomadic spiritualist would travel far and wide to nurse ailing orchards back to health. He rarely asked for payment but any he received went toward books which he would give out to people he met during his travels. While the popular legend paints Johnny Appleseed as a jolly individual, scattering apple seeds merrily as he traveled barefoot, in reality he was far more methodical. John planted nurseries, left them in the care of those he met, and checked back every few years to ensure they were thriving.

We think this day is a special one to be celebrated. National Johnny Appleseed Day represents the power of the individual driven by altruism, hard work, and attention to detail. While we would love to be thought of as mythical beings, sprinkling coffee beans throughout the country, the truth is we’re too busy roasting. We’ll have to leave the sprinkling to you!

This September, we plan on honoring Johnny Appleseed by pouring ourselves into the magic of our trade – making it easy, inexpensive, and fun to buy our coffee! We hope veryone we meet is a little better than before they found us. Celebrate Johnny with a cup of our Autumn Harvest or Apple Cider Donut coffee. Tell us what you think in the comments below!

It’s pretty safe to assume that we don’t need a reason to bake pie. We could eat it all day, every day. But if you’re hesitating at all, you’ll be relieved to know today is Pi Day. What is Pi Day you may ask?

Pi Day is the annual celebration of the mathematical constant Π. To be a little more specific, Pi is the ratio between the diameter and circumference of a circle. We celebrate this holiday today, on March 14 (3/14), because 3.14 are also the first three digits of Π!

Generally, Pi Day is celebrated with pie. Creative right?!? Well… maybe not, but who cares? Not only are pies delicious, but they’re usually a circle too. For us, festivities include activities such as baking pie, talking about pie, eating pie, and maybe even a pie in the face (be careful though, not everyone is a fan of that last one ;-D). So, like you, we’ll totally use Pi Day as an excuse to get at some scrumptious, pie.

This recipe for Apple Berry Pie was concocted by our resident baker and shipping expert Lori. Lori’s Apple Berry Pie is chock-full of apple slices and whole berries: cherries, blueberries, and raspberries. We would say it tastes like an explosion of tart, fruity goodness, but that would not do justice to how good this pie truly is!

This Apple Berry pie’s filling is gooey and sweet, with a crumble on top adding a satisfying spicy crunch to the fruit inside. It’s so tasty, we bet you’ll be having a slice for breakfast with your coffee or tea! Give it a try with our March Roaster’s Blend. The combination of piquant Panama Boquete & sweet City Roast Costa Rican coffee perfectly complements the fruity spice of this delectable pie. They go together like two pies in a pod. Give this tasty recipe a try, and let us know what you think in the comments below!

Ingredients:

1 frozen pie crust

For the fruit:

2 cups blueberries                             2 cups raspberries

1 cup cherries                                   2 apples, chopped

2 tablespoons flour                            1 tablespoon bourbon

½ teaspoon clove                              ½ teaspoon black pepper

½ teaspoon salt                                ½ teaspoon ginger

½ teaspoon chile powder                    1 teaspoon cinnamon

For the topping:

¾ cups + 2 tablespoons butter (in liquid form)

½ cup of brown sugar

1 ¼ cup rolled oats

½ cup flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the pie crust in a baking dish. Toss the apples with the flour and spices and spread in a single layer in the baking dish.
2. Whisk the butter and brown sugar together until smooth. Place the rolled oats, pecans, flour, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Add the coconut oil and brown sugar mixture; stir until combined.
3. Pour the oat mixture over the apples to cover them evenly. Bake for 40-50 minutes until the topping is browning slightly. Let stand for 15-20 minutes.